CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Corpus Christi IceRays, proud members of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), today announced the team has added Al Rooney to the club’s coaching staff in the role of assistant coach and goaltending coach.
The Deer Park, N.Y., native brings a wealth of junior hockey coaching experience to the IceRays, including the past two-plus seasons in the NAHL. Rooney, 46, previously served as head coach and general manager for the Chippewa Steel (2018-19), associate head coach and goaltending coach for the Austin Bruins (2017-18), and assistant coach of the 2016-17 Robertson Cup champion Lone Star Brahmas.
“I am extremely excited to work with Al and bring his experience to our team,” said IceRays head coach Ryan Cruthers. “He is a proven winner that prides himself on work ethic and attention to detail, which have been staples in our organization this season. Al will be a major asset for our players’ development with his work behind the bench and on the ice.”
Prior to his time in the NAHL, Rooney was a head coach in the NA3HL with the Texas Brahmas for two seasons (2014-15 and 2015-16).
Prior to his coaching career, Rooney was a goaltender for eight seasons of minor-league hockey, primarily in the CHL (Amarillo Rattlers, San Angelo Outlaws, Huntsville Tornado, Nashville Nighthawks) and WPHL (San Angelo Outlaws, Abilene Aviators, Lake Charles Ice Pirates, Fort Worth Brahmas), where he faced the pro-hockey-era Corpus Christi IceRays.
“My family and I are thrilled about the opportunity for me to join the IceRays coaching staff,” said Rooney. “I’ve been familiar with the organization since my playing days earlier in my career and certainly coaching against them in recent years. Corpus Christi has always been a tough place to play and a beautiful place to live. I am really looking forward to getting back on the bench this weekend.”
The IceRays start 2019 in Amarillo with a three-game set tonight through Sunday inside the Budweiser Bull Pen at Amarillo Civic Center. Friday and Saturday’s games are set for 7:05 PM CT while Sunday’s faceoff will be at 4:05 PM CT. Rooney is expected to make his debut behind the bench at Saturday’s contest. IceRays games are carried live on Sportsradio Corpus Christi (1230 AM/95.1 FM/96.1 FM), HockeyTV and Mixlr. For more information, visit goicerays.com/broadcast. Corpus Christi’s next home game at American Bank Center is Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 against the Shreveport Mudbugs.
Single game tickets, group tickets and suites for the remainder of the 2018-19 IceRays season are on sale now. Visit goicerays.com or call 361-814-PUCK (7825) for tickets or more information. Stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays) and Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays).
